2008 Malibu Pro Team Challenge Champions - Team Hyperlite

After two days of fun, sun, beautiful scenery, killer conditions and insane riding, the 2nd Annual Malibu Pro Team Challenge is a wrap. Congratulations to 2008 Champions, Team Hyperlite, who backed up last years win with a repeat performance. They retain the Malibu Cup and the names of Erik Ruck, Aaron Rathy, Jimmy LaRiche, JD Webb and Jacob Valdez will be added to the base. Team Hyperlite also split the $24,000 “winner-take-all” purse!

Hyperlite’s dominance was due in large part to the incredible all-around performance from PWT Junior Men’s Champion, Jimmy LaRiche (110 individual points), Hyperlite ended up with a total of 240 points to keep the crown in their camp.

Read the official press release complete with photos … after the jump.

Alex Scagliotti has been busy this summer. He recently took the time to catch up with WakeboardNorthwest to tell us about his Wake season so far, his coaching experience at O-Town Water Sports, the 3rd place podium at the Tige Pro-Am, filming with WIT Productions, and coaching at ELEVATE Wakeboard Camp throughout the summer.

“This is what has been happening so far this summer. It started off with me making the move to Orlando, Florida from March-June (love the NW but you can’t ignore the climate). I was an instructor at O-Town which has helped my riding more than anything else so far in my riding career. I definitely got a little spoiled living on a lake, with warm weather, flat water, big wakes, and other riders to push me. The ever present alligators also gave me a little more incentive not to fall. My favorite part about working at the O-Town Water Sports was that every week it seemed like we had someone new from another country…….”

Read Alex’s full “blog style” update and check out some photo galleries posted after the jump.

Sean Kilgus, BFY Productions, has created another masterpiece in DRIVE. He has stretched the limits to bring us, the viewers, unique angles during the filming of this video. The use of zip lines during slider sessions will truly give us a vantage point and perspective unseen before. The Rider line up in DRIVE The Video is as red carpet as it gets : Randall Harris, Rusty Malinoski, Danny Harf, Chad Sharpe, Trevor Hansen, Jimmy Lariche, Benny Greenwood, Gabe Lucas, JD Webb, Jeff McKee, Erik Ruck, and Adam Errington.

DRIVE The Video hits local pro shops and online wake stores this week. Go out and pick up a copy - let us know what you think of the video. Check out another short teaser after the jump.

There has been plenty of buzz about the all new Hyperlite Marek Rusty Malinoski pro model wakeboard. We have had coverage recently with a little teaser video, and WakeOrigin.com has shown us the details.

Now the popular yet to release Marek wakeboard brings a contest to light. Find out more … after the jump.

Hyperlite is set to release the all new and highly anticipated MAREK wakeboard. The world of wake will bea able to purchase this board, Rusty Malinoski’s new pro-model, on May 15, 2008 at shops all over. The board utilizes Hyperlite’s D.I.N.E. technology that is also used in the Sub VI and Murray models. The price tag of these boards is a little higher, but worth the extra coin. This tech provides a much lighter and much stronger board.

More information … after the jump.

The Malibu Pro Team Challenge began airing today on FUEL TV. The show premiered at 5:00 pm Pacific time during the “Monday Night Events” block. If you missed out on one of the first showings you will get many more chances to see the event coverage as it will continue to show a minimum of 10 to 13 additional times in the weeks to follow. Alliance edited and filmed the event for FUEL TV in a unique presentation capturing the overall fun, team comraderie and competitive action of the event.

Read more after the jump.

Sean Kilgus, of BFY Productions, is in the process of filming DRIVE. Again Kilgus has assembled the top riders in the sport to create what looks to be his best cinematic achievement in DRIVE. The entire video has been shot with HD Super 16mm Film. Look for the film to release in Spring 2008.

Riders Featured in DRIVE : Rusty Malinoski, Randall Harris, Danny Harf, Chad Sharpe, Jeff McKee, Ben Greenwood, Jimmy Lariche, Adam Errington, Trevor Hansen, Gabe Lucas, and JD Webb, Erik Ruck

Check out the DRIVE teaser after the jump or by clicking on the logo in “Latest Video Trailers” section.

Northwest Rider Alex Scagliotti, a staple rider from Central Oregon, took some time to write up a blog about ELEVATE Wakeboard Camp which he coaches at throughout the summer months. WakeboardNorthwest strongly recommends you check this camp out and book your session for next Summer. ELEVATE Wakeboard Camp runs on Prineville Reservoir during the summer and on Lake Billy Chinook (for an all ladies camp).

“I have been lucky enough to be with the camp from the beginning, the ground level. When the organizer, Gregg Garretson, contacted me and asked me if I wanted to be a coach for this brand new wakeboard camp, I jumped on the opportunity right away. I knew that there had been an Elevate Snowboard Camp and had heard from friends that it was a blast, so I was stoked to hear they were breaking off into wakeboarding as well. With the growing interest of this relatively new sport in central Oregon, I knew it was only a matter of time until someone stepped up and spearheaded this new movement; Elevate was that pioneer.” - Alex Scagliotti : ELEVATE Coach & Rider

Read Alex’s full blog about ELEVATE Wakeboard Camp after the jump.

Alex Scagliotti had another great season this year. He rode the Pro-Tour, took the WWA Series, competed in numerous local comps held in NorCal, and even had time to film this summer with Spencer Norris of WIT Productions. However, just shortly after returning from our filming trip to Central Washington Alex was struck by a virus that put him on bed rest. He was unable to compete at the INT Nationals this past week and Tige Open which he was planning on riding in to finish up his season.

The WakeboardNorthwest Staff and fellow Northwest Riders wish Alex all the best and pray for his quick recovery.

Check out the gallery of Alex that was shot during the WIT Productions Filming trip to Central Washington a few weeks back.

The Hyperlite wakeboard team gathered in Northern California recently to relax, recharge, and to take advantage of the incredible late season conditions Lake Shasta is known for. Fortunately for us they also brought along a video camera to capture some of the best free-riding we’ve seen. As an added bonus, there are some good shots of the 2008 gear, as the official purpose of the trip was to shoot video and images for the 2008 Hyperlite catalog.

As the season here in the Northwest starts to wrap-up, this video makes us wish we had a Shasta trip planned sometime in the near future to extend the season just a little bit longer. Hyperlite has put together a great team, and if they have plans to release more videos from team trips in the future we’re all for that.

Check out the video after the jump.